Artificial fish-bait.



c. o: LEE @L J. o. HELMKAM'P. ARTIFICIAL FISH BAIT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1912.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

WTNESSES 1 to be submerged but UNITED sirATEsPATENT OFFICE. i

CHARLES o. :BLEE AND JOHN c. HELMKAMP, oF FORT Winner,v INDIANA.

ARTIFICIAL FISH-Barr.

` .Specification 'of Letters Patent. Application ined August 5, 1912.serial No. 713,335.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES O. BLEE and JOHNC. HELMKAM, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Fort IVayne, inthe county of Allen and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new andluseful Improvements in Artihcial Fish-Bait., of which the following is aspecification.`

This invention relates. to artificial bait for trolling and casting, andits object is to providea bait whichwill float on top of the submergedinthe watercif desired. The bait body is .hollow and is adapted to befilled with water if it is to be "submerged, the flow` of wa'ter intothe bait body being controlled by a valve mechanism. The valve mechanismcan be locked in closed position if the bait is` not is to remain 'ontop of the water.

In order that the invention may be bet--y ter understood, referenceiishadl to the accompanying drawing-.in which-- Figure 1 is a in section. Fig. 2 is line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes the bait body, the samebeing hollow a cross-section on the and having any suitable shape,perfectly elongated as shown. In the front and rear ends of the body arecentral openings 6 which are provided with valves 7 carried on a rod 8extending centrally and l0ngit`udinally Iat the sides so that the watermay flow through the openings 6 into the body when the valves 7 areopen. The rod 8 passes through the apex 'of the extensions and bev hindthe rear extension vcarries a spinner 10. In front of the forwardextension, the rod carries a spinner 1'1, and an eye 12 to which theline`13 is connected. Around the rod, betweenthe front valve and across-bar 14, is coiled a spring 15 which serves to normally hold thesaid valve, as Well as the rear valve, closed. The 'rod passes looselythrough the cross-bar 14, and the latter is carried by the frontvextension 9. The rearend of-the rod l .8 has a screw-threaded portion16l on which is mounted a nut 17 which is adapted to be screwed againstthe rear end ofthe body 5 to'hold the valves closecl.`

The valves open when the rod is pulled forward, in view of which it willbe evident that the valves are locked in closed'posltion plan view ofthe bait, partlyy through the body. `At each end of the` body areconical extensions 9 which are open l/ screwed against the rear If thevalves are to open,

when the nut 17 is end of the. body 5.

In operation, when the bait is drawn in after being cast,'the valves V7open and admit Water into the bait body causing it to sink deeper intothe water, and as soon -as it is lifted outofv t-he Water for thenext'cast, the waterwill run out ofthe bait body through the rearopening 6, the weight of the bait body`causing it to slide down onbaitis cast and strikes the water, the line being slack, ,the spring l5`holds the valves upon the valves open and admit water into the body tosubmerge Vthe bait. If it is desired that the bait remain on top of thewater, the nut 17 is operated tolock the rod 8 as hereinbeforedescribed. -If a heavy bait is desired enough Water may be admitted togive the required weight, after which the nut 17 is operated to hold theCvalves closed. N We claim:

1. An artificial bait comprising a hollow buoyant body having .waterinlets, valves trolling the body, said line being operatively connectedto the valves.` 2.' An artificial bait comprising a hollow buoyant body,body, and -means actuated .by said line for admitting water into thebody to submerge the same. p

. 3. An artilicial bait 'comprising a hollow buoyant body having waterinlets, a rod ried by `the rod and controlling the aforesaid inlets, anda line 4.v An artificial bait comprising a hollow buoyant body havingwater inlets, a rod passing loosely through the body, valves carried by4said inlets, 'a line connected to the rod', and

means for locking the rod to hold the valve closed. J

Patented Mair. 18,1913.,

the nut. is backed, which releases the rody to be passed through the therodaway from the valves.' VVhenlthe closed until vthe line is given apull, where-4 a line for controlling said connected to the, rod.

By this means the v hook can be readily attached or removed.

controlling said inlets, and a linefor'con- .passing loosely throughthebody, valves car the rod and controlling the afore,v

An artificial bait comprising a hollow ybuoyant bodyhaving water inlets,a rod `silient means for movi jecting passing loosely through the body,valves carried by the rod and cont-rolling the aforesaid inlets, a lineconnected to the rod, 'and re- 'ng the rod in a direction to-close'thevalves. f

6. An' artificial bait comprising a hollow buoyant body having waterinlets, a rod passing loosely through the body, and pro from the endsthereof, spinners mounted on the projecting ends of the rod, valvescarried by the rod and controlling the aforesaid Jinlets, and a lineconnected to the rod.

7. An' artificial bait omprisinga hollow` i buoyant body having waterinlets, a rod? 'ried by the nosa/aaa' `passing loo'sel;7 throiigh the'body, valves carrod and controlling the aforesaid`inlets, a lineconnected to the rod, and

a nut screwed on the rod and adjustable to A engage the movement 8. Anartificial bait comprising a hollow body to lock the -rod againstlbuoyant body having waterinlets, valves controlling said inlets, and ahaulingvline operatively connected to the valves.

In testimony CHARLES O. BLEE. JOHN C. HELMKAMP. Witnessesz- ELMERVEISTHORN,

H. `J. TAYLOR.

in a direction to open the valves..

whereofl we laffix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

